What is Sound

Steve brings you a bigger perspective on sound / music and what it is to him.

(this is in a .pdf format)

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Below is a collection of original articles dating back to 1998.  Listed in descending order.

(NOTE: All current writings from Steve can be found in our support forums)

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Audiophile Home Theater
How to have serious 2 channel & 5.1 at the same time

Zen Open Baffle Speaker Project 
Part V the Final Chapter.

 

Understanding "usable power" 
Smaller amps can have greater dynamics?

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New Decware Single Ended amplifier 
Design notes of the Mini Torii SE.

I hate consumer grade digital logic! 
Another short bit of real life.

Open Baffle Speaker exploration PART IV 
The concept becomes a reality.

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Open Baffle Speaker exploration PART III 
The reality becomes the concept.

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Fidelity / a Game of the Weakest Link 
Do you know which link holds your system back the most?

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Open Baffle Speaker exploration PART II
The concept becomes reality.

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Open Baffle Speaker exploration PART I 
Another design concept in the Zen Zone

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Design notes for the ZP3
The Zen Triode Phono Stage - Anniversary edition

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2006 Decware ZenFest report 
Our annual event keeps getting better

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Design notes for the NFX Loudspeaker
The Zen Triode Phono Stage - Anniversary edition

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Design notes for the CSP2
Our new preamp / OTL headphone amp - Anniversary edition

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New amplifier platform
Decware kicks it up a notch!

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Decware Full Range Driver
Previously FE206EM / now the new DFR-8!

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Good Sound / Bad Sound 
Why it happens and how to deal with hit.

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Ideas for all tube home theater
It can be simpler then you think.

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The Whole Deal with Power Cords 
Do they make a difference or not.

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The TORII Mk II design notes
This documents the design of our best selling amplifier.

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The TABOO design notes
This documents the design of our production model.

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The TABOO of amplifier design
A glimpse into the early design process of our new amp.

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Design notes on the ZBox
Motivations behind it and how it works

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Design notes on the SE84CSP
An actual story about the final testing with a surprise ending

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How to choose the right preamp
This should clear things up for you when you consider preamps

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New SE34I design notes 
A comparison between the original SE34I and new SE34I.2

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My Epiphanies
A snapshot into the design process

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The EX mods 
How to know if you would benefit from them.

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Where's the fuse?
How to find and change the fuse on a Decware amplifier.

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Preamps - Do they help or hurt the sound 
Type A, type B and type C.

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Understand High-Efficiency Full-Range Drivers 
Arm yourself with a little knowledge.

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The Headphone Advantage 
If you don't have a great headphone setup read this.

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The Real Magic Behind our Signatures 
The best sound I've achieved to date.

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Principle of the Decware Phase Guide 
New technology used in our HDT speakers.

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Designs in Wood 
Picture article about our speaker manufacturing.

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Signature Zen Triode Monoblocks
Design notes on our original signature amp.

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Troubleshooting Hum Problems 
Usually it's not the amp but something else.

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Audiophile Review 
The quest for perfection - Radials with Zen Triodes.

 

Room Treatments Where do I start?
An introduction and overview of room treatments.

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Lowther DX55
A diary of its full range implementation - invention of the GIZMO !

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Our 1st review experience
Why you don't find our stuff in the big hi-end magazines.

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Decware Corner Horn
This is a .pdf file of my first serious white paper.

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Holographic Imaging
Using imaging as a benchmark for evaluating amplifiers.

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Power of Suggestion 
Hilarious observation about tweaks for your stereo

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Accuracy 
What is absolute accuracy in high fidelity land?

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Optimal Listening Room dimensions 
You could be sitting in a potentially perfect room and not know it.

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Output transformers
Think you'll improve our amps with "better" transformers?

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Dynamic Range
Most people think dynamic range requires lots of power...

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White Paper
White paper on the original Zen Triode Phono Stage.

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White Paper
White paper on the original Radial Loudspeaker

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Diary of a Phono Stage
Designer's log of the soon to be released Zen Triode Phono Stage.

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Zen
Starting to show up everywhere - overdone "buzzword?"

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The Paradox between Recording & Playback
An article about creating a home studio and becoming a musician

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Needle or DAC, resolution and the signal's intent
Snapshot from our audio forum

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The Potential of CD's vs. LP's
If you're one who's actively chasing the magic in audio, read this.

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The Grand Illusion
A paper on high fidelity playback systems

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What's Going On Up There
A response to ultrasonic frequency response in the new digital formats.

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From A to C, a new Zen amp history
The Zen amp explained with an overview of past revisions.

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Pentodes, Triodes & "Fake" triodes
Discover how dangerous assumptions can be.

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How component speed effects musicality
Some insight on choosing musical components that sound good together.

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How to setup a room without treatment
Another must read for anyone setting up a dedicated or semi-dedicated room.

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How to design a speaker
A must read for someone who wants an exceptional sounding speaker.

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Audiophiles in America
Poking fun at the weenies.

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Zen Amp RMS power mystery unraveled
Another cry in the wilderness from the lonely Zen master.

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SPL (Sound Pressure Levels)
Bet you didn't realize this was possible and happening all over today..

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Something really cool
If you could see sound quality with your eyes.

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The Magic Hour PART II
A continuation of one of the larger mysteries in audio.

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My old listening room
Transition from a casual listening room to a more serious listening room.

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Some thoughts about listening rooms
Find out what side of the fence your on.

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Tubes vs. Transistors PART IIA lengthy continuation consisting of the second set of replies. Great Stuff.

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Tubes vs. Transistors
Someone wrote me a great email... and the debate begins!

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Direct vs. Reflected Energy
An understanding of how speakers image or don't image in your room.

The Nutcracker 
What is wrong with these people?

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Audio Paradoxes
Why does the underdog ALWAYS sound better around here?

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The magic hour
An examination of the mystery of the middle of the night bloom!

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Are we all Crazy?
A personal cry for improvement from your worry webmaster!

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Tweaks for your speakers
Find out why do it yourself speakers can sound so good

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The Zen Amp - this is where it all began.